A scene from ‘Periodical’

Hot Docs Review: ‘Periodical’ trades euphemisms for facts

‘Periodical’ is a factual and non-sexist representation of menstruation and menopause, examining the science, politics and mystery of the menstrual cycle.

The Period. Not the punctuation you find at the end of sentences, but the biological function every woman experiences at some point and potentially for the majority of their lives. Yet, we’re not supposed to talk about it. At some points in history and in certain cultures, women were not even allowed to leave the house if they were menstruating. To bleed from an intimate part of one’s body is simultaneously a rite of passage and a gross necessity that can be accompanied by any number of symptoms and complications. Periodical explores menstruation from numerous angles, creating greater comprehension and comfort with the subject via  period-positive language.

In a relatively short amount of time, this documentary provides an exceptionally detailed education on women’s biology. Unfortunately, sex education is no longer a priority in many school systems, leaving young women without the knowledge they need to understand their own bodies and counter the endless falsehoods that permeate popular culture. At the most rudimentary level, it teaches about physiology: identifying and naming body parts, describing the menstrual cycle, and encouraging women to become more familiar with their own bodies. At the other end of the spectrum, it dispels myths surrounding menopause, explains the dangers of endometriosis, and explores the pros and cons of menstrual-related technological advancements.

Whether you feel pretty in the know or that you have some holes in your knowledge, this is a must-see film that answers questions you may not have realized you needed to ask. Supplementing whatever instruction is provided by the school system, an educator uses diagrams, charts and models to give young women the vocabulary to understand their own bodies. In a class for older women, the teachings go beyond the basics, but still impart things they should probably know. The doctors, activists, celebrities and athletes in the film — including actress Naomi Watts and soccer player Megan Rapinoe — are very frank about their periods. Love them or hate them, they all got them… until they have to contend with menopause and all the negativity that surrounds it.

Notably, there’s a lot of humour involved as they talk about this topic that so many would never openly discuss. For instance, there’s a section that hypothesizes what it would be like if men had periods instead of women, and the results are both believable and ridiculous. There’s also a number of illustrations used to demystify some of the more complex biological concepts. Several advocates outline their efforts to pass basic laws in every state that will classify essential period products as tax-free. Most interestingly, while watching the documentary, one realizes it’s not only trying to spread good information, but it’s also normalizing these conversations so it becomes less uncomfortable to have them later and especially if/when it’s necessary.

Periodical had its international premiere in the Special Presentations programme at the Hot Docs Festival.

Read other reviews from the festival.

Director: Lina Plioplyte

Similar Posts

  • Review: There’s no two films alike in Hot Docs’ World Showcase (Includes first-hand account)

    The Earth is a big place, filled with endless stories waiting to be told and countless more that will never be revealed. The Hot Docs Canadian International Documentary Festival‘s “World Showcase” features just a small selection of these tales. There’s no common underlying themes or tone; just a desire to share these narratives with an audience. We look at three films in this category: Diving into the Unknown, The Father, the Son and the Holy Jihad, and Future Baby.

  • ‘A Skyjacker’s Tale’ director mirrors own uncertainty on screen (Includes interview and first-hand account)

    Sometimes the best, most intriguing stories are the ones you could never have made up. In 1972, eight people are murdered on a Rockefeller golf course in the U.S. Virgin Islands by masked gunmen. Out of the hundreds of men questioned, five are charged and convicted of the crime by a judge with ties to the Rockefellers. Maintaining their innocence, they spend the next several years trying to appeal the eight consecutive life sentences they each received. On New Year’s Eve 1984, frustrated by their lack of progress, Ishmael Muslim Ali (formerly Labeet) hijacks a plan during a prison transfer and redirects it to Cuba, where he’s lived ever since.

  • Review: ‘78/52’ invites Hot Docs audiences into the shower with Hitchcock (Includes first-hand account)

    Movies are an ingrained element of our culture and an acknowledged form of communicating, directly and indirectly. Cinematic messages can be obvious and built into the narrative, or they can be hidden in the plot and images; sometimes deeper meanings are intended to be understood by some viewers and concealed from others… censors, for instance. Alfred Hitchcock was a master auteur known for circumventing the Motion Picture Production Code with creative framing and the art of inferring rather than showing. One of his greatest and still admired constructions is the shower scene in Psycho, which is thoroughly examined in 78/52.

  • Review: Not all Hot Docs’ films are traditional documentaries (Includes first-hand account)

    In most film festivals, there are a number of films that don’t easily fit into other categories. At the Hot Docs Canadian International Documentary Festival, those movies are put in the “Nightvision” programme. It’s here that audiences can find bizarre tales of horror, sex and outlandishness. We look at two films from this programme: Fear Itself and Nuts!